Hip-hop’s next future star took the news of him being passed on Jay’s first single in stride. In fact, he told the homie Keith Murphy, he never thought he would get that look.
“I don’t know who came up with that rumor to be honest, but I always knew what Jay’s first single was going to be. Me and Jay did a lot of work together. Maybe at one point he was considering doing it and someone got over-excited and put out a press release that I was going to be on the first single.”
He also goes on to say that Jigga might’ve jacked his new joint.
“I think the ‘Run This Town’ song is phenomenal. I think Kanye kills that shit. I actually heard that song when it was a Rihanna track.”
Props: Rap-Up
Great breakdown of Statik Selektah’s *Round Trip*! Honestly, this 2023 Mass Appeal release is pure boom-bap bliss from start to finish. Statik really outdid himself with those smooth, jazzy sample flips and turntable scratches, creating the exact kind of laid-back, golden-era hip-hop vibe you want playing in the background while relaxing at Denmark holiday cottages over a quiet weekend. The guest list alone is stacked—having legends like Posdnous kicking things off on the opener "Round Trip (For Dave)" alongside heavy hitters like Method Man, Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, and Inspectah Deck on "Unpredictable" makes every track feel like a proper event. Even the newer-school features like Benny the Butcher, Conway the Machine, and Joey Bada$$ fit effortlessly over the dusty, soulful production without a single wasted verse. Definitely one of his most cohesive projects in years and an easy front-to-back spin for anyone who appreciates real hip-hop craftsmanship.